Improvement in washing-machines



F. B. PRESTON.

v Washing-Machines. NO. 140,641. Patentedjuly8,l873.

o O a Z c 0 La 9 o c O o I 9 HF a I. g Wnnesses: Inventor:

Annrneys.

AM. PHD ra-umu GRAPH/L on N. x ('bssomvs's Pn-ocsss) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS B. PRESTON, OF FAYETTE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM STAPLETON, OF SAME PLACE.

iMPROVEM ENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,641, dated July 8, 1873; application filed May 17, 1873.

To all whom it'may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. PREsToN, of Fayette, in the county of Howard and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved washing machine taken through the line 00 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same, the cover being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention consists in the improvement of washing-machines, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

A is the box of the machine, which is made rectangular in form, and is supported upon legs 13, of such a length as to raise the machine to a convenient height. The part a of the bottom of the box A inclines downward slightly as it passes forward from the rear end, and the forward part (0 which is about half the length of the part a inclines in the opposite direction, and with a steeper inclination than said part a as shown in Fig. 1. C and D are the heaters, which are perforated with numerous holes to allow the water to pass through freely. The forward beater C is rigidly attached to a shaft, E, which passes through and works in the sides of the box A, and to its outer ends are rigidly attached the lower ends of the levers F. lhe outer beater D is rigidly attached to the forward ends of two rods, G, the rear ends of which are pivoted to the lower ends of two arms, H, the upper ends of which are rigidly attached to the shaft I. The shaft I works in bearings in the upper rear part of the sides of the box A, and to its projecting ends are rigidly attached short arms J, to the outer ends of which are pivoted the ends of the connecting-rods K, the other ends of which are pivoted to the arms or brackets L, rigidly attached to the lower ends of the levers F, and which may be made in the form of quadrants of circles or other convenient form. The outer or free ends of the levers F are connected by a metallic rod, M, which serves as a handle, and, at the same time,

weights the said levers, so as to increase the effect of the stroke as the clothes are compressed between the two beaters, and allow the operator to apply any desired amount of pressure upon said clothes without having its effect weakened by the rebound of the beater. The box A is provided with a cover, which is made in three parts, N O P, the end parts N P being permanently attached to said-box, and the middle part 0 being hinged at one end to one of the end parts, and secured to the other end part by a buttoner other convenient fastening.

The ends of the beater D are rabbeted from their upper edge about two-thirds of their width to prevent the clothes from lodging between said ends and the sides of the box A.

In using the machine the levers F are raised into an upright position, the clothes are inserted between the heaters, and the cover is closed. As the levers F are lowered the beater D moves forward, pressing the clothes againstthe forward beater C, forcing the water and dirt out of said clothes and through the perforations of the said beater C. As the lovers F are again raised the beater D moves back for another stroke, and the beat er C is rocked, its upper edge moving rearward and its lower edge forward, so as to loosen and detach the clothes, and cause them to turn over as they fall back, and are swept into the middlenpart of the box A by the outrnsh of the water dammed up by the clothes and heaters in front of the stationary beater C, so that the clothes may be in a differentposition each time they are operated upon.

Having thus described my invention,Iclaim as new and desire to'seeure by Letters Patent- The combination of the rockingbeater C, sliding beater D, shaft E, levers F, connectingrods Gr, rigid arms H, shaft I, rigid arms J, connecting-rods K, and brackets or arms L, with each other and with the box A, substantially as herein shown and described.

FRANCIS B. PRESTON. WVitnesses:

GEo. W. MILLION, Tnos. Owmes. 

